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| Parents Meeting at the new Mill Creek High
School opening |
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It Takes A Community
Have you noticed that in many ways, the attitude of our youth is
primarily focused on “Me, Myself and I.” It has not
been to long ago when that type of thinking was considered embarrassing
selfish only held by individuals who could care less about the community.
However, young people today in all communities and all socioeconomic
levels are more focused on individual pleasures. (young people are
children between the ages of 10 & 18). Let me give you some
examples:
• Electronic Games are designed to primarily entertain one
person at a time. At a recent gathering of boys in my home, I noticed
that one boy would play and the other boys would watch until it
was their turn. The conversation consisted of grunts, groans and
yelling rarely using words or sentences. When the boys left, I ask
if they had had a good time? Oh yes they all exclaimed and would
love to come back and play again.
• The next time you send your children to the movies, ask
them to tell you about it. How was the movie you might ask. “O’h
it was great.” Did you enjoy it? “Yes.” What was
it about? Well….(and after some feeble attempt…the answer
might tail off and they will say, “it’s to complicated
to explain.”)
• The number of hours children are watching TV is increasing.
This is particularly more of a problem during the summer as children
gravitate to being entertained rather than engage in social interaction
or using their imaginations in play. Michael Medved in his book,
“Saving Childhood” states; “In real life, we associate
the term airheads with little intellectual activity, and by fostering
great interest in spectacular packaging, TV makes airheads of us
all. TV trains us to feel satisfied with surfaces; to focus our
adoration on characters who make the most appealing visual presentation,
without a thought of their ethics or accomplishments. ”
What is the problem? Our youth are spending a lot of time in front
of a tube receiving information that is forming their worldview
in ways that our youth themselves cannot articulate. Many parents
feel somewhat helpless in protecting their kids from a hedonistic
culture that promotes premature sex, drugs, alcohol, depression,
obscene tattoos, profanity, failure in school and paralyzing cynicism.
Our communities must find a way to influence positively young people
by sharing our values and helping to make them into contributing
citizens.
It takes a community. How can we help? First, take note of the
number of youth living in your area or on your street. Do you know
them? Do you interact with them and their parents? Second, talk
with parents of young people and devise a plan to engage young people
in dialog where they can interact with adults and with each other.
We need more face-to-face time in our communities where our young
people can learn our values rather than being forced to adopt the
values of others through TV, movies, video games and even inappropriate
books.
On my street there are 10 families with young people. Just think;
if each family designed an activity for some or all of the youth
on the street what a positive contribution that would make. Indeed,
if you do not have children in the home, couldn’t you contribute
in some positive way to the growth and development of our young
people? Think about it!
We would like to hear from you on ideas you have implemented to
help youth in our community. Please send your ideas to info@MiTowne.com
or call 404-713-0991 and we will select some to share with the rest
of the community. Names will not be published.
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